Outer-Airbag Flight: The 'Crash-Proof' Prototype Born from Tragedy
In the wake of the Air India crash that killed all but one of the 242 people aboard, engineers unveiled a bold, bizarre safety concept: an aircraft equipped with airbags on the outside. Dubbed Project REBIRTH, the design is pitched as the first AI-powered crash-survival system, deploying smart airbags, impact-absorbing fluids, and even reverse thrust mid-air to turn a fatal crash into a survivable landing. REBIRTH is a finalist for the James Dyson Award, which spotlights inventions that could change the world. The designers say the system could be added to existing planes or installed on new ones, as a dramatic response to grief and a longing to keep passengers safe.
In This Article:
What Is Project REBIRTH? The First AI-Powered Crash-Survival System
Project REBIRTH deploys smart airbags, impact-absorbing fluids, and reverse thrust mid-air. AI sensors monitor altitude, speed, engine status, direction, fire, and pilot response to decide when to deploy. If a crash is unavoidable below 3,000 feet, the airbags activate automatically, though the captain can abort deployment at this point. The cushions shoot out from the nose, belly, and tail in under two seconds, wrapping the fuselage in a protective cocoon.
Meet the Designers and the Why Behind the Idea
Eshel Wasim and Dharsan Srinivasan, engineers at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Dubai campus, say the idea was born from grief after the Ahmedabad crash. “After the June 2025 Ahmedabad crash, my mother couldn’t sleep,” one designer wrote. “She kept thinking about the fear the passengers and pilots must have felt, knowing there was no way out. That helplessness haunted us.” “That emotional storm became hours of research and design. REBIRTH is more than engineering — it’s a response to grief. A promise that survival can be planned, and that even after failure, there can be a second chance.”
How It Works in Practice
The system deploys cushions that shoot out from the nose, belly, and tail in under two seconds, surrounding the fuselage in a protective cocoon. If engines work, reverse thrust slows descent. If not, gas thrusters activate, helping reduce speed and stabilize the plane by 8–20%. Impact-absorbing fluids behind walls and seats stay soft but harden on impact to reduce injuries. The airbags can be added to existing planes or installed in new ones, and the team plans to partner with aerospace labs for crash sled and wind tunnel testing.
What’s Next, Funding, and the Bigger Dream
A release date for REBIRTH is unclear, but the engineers say they want it tested, approved, and used in real flights. If they win the James Dyson Award—the winner will be announced on November 5—they stand to receive more than $40,000 and the chance to start their own business. But the team stresses their motive is not fame or money. “This competition is our first step in bringing our vision forward—not for recognition, but with the hope that one day, it may help save lives when all else fails.”
